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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Shero Does It Again, Ponikarovsky A Pen

During the Penguins 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres the Penguins, namely GM Ray Shero, completed a deal that sent Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula to the Toronto Maple Leafs for winger Alex Ponikarovsky.

While some people might think this is too much to give up for the Penguins, I feel this is a good deal for the team and this should help them a ton.

Lets take a quick look at this kid from the USSR. He is 6'4 and 220 pounds and was drafted in the 4th round of the 1998 draft by the Maple Leafs. So far this season Poni has 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points. As Wyshynski points out in his post that when GMRS picked up Bill Guerin had 38 points (17+21) when he came to the Penguins last season.

Ponikarovsky is a skilled winger that will most likely be on a line with Geno and Feds and if he produces like we know he can then this is going to be a steal for the Penguins. Last season Poni played in all 82 games and recorded 61 points (23+38) so we know he can put the puck into the net. In 477 career games he has scored 114 goals and 143 assists and is a +56. When you are a plus with the Toronto Maple Leafs you know you are doing something right.

The Penguins give up Luca Caputi and Martin Skoula will go to Toronto Maple Leafs. Caputi has playedin 54 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season, he has 47 points (23+24). Skoula has been just as good as a parking cone for his time with the Penguins. How Shero got the Leafs to take on his salary is beyond me, but good shit.

Caputi was one of the Penguins best prospects so will be hard to see him go, but as Seth from Empty Netters proclaimed:

Part of us wants to be upset that the Penguins dealt a legit prospect like Caputi. They cleary sacrificed the future for this deal. But they're not building for the future these days. They're playing for now. Ponikarovsky is an immediate upgrade on the winger position.

Seth you are right on my man. It woulda been tough for Caputi to crack the lineup for the Penguins and with Eric Tangradi in the system it would be tough. You have to give up something in order to get something. I like this deal but I guess we will see.

Oh yea, the Penguins won today too, 3-2 over the Sabres. The Penguins went 3-1 against the Sabres this season and could move into first place in the Atlantic if the Devils drop their contest to the Sharks tonight.

Bing played a pretty inspired game and Geno Malkin recorded a point in his 14th straight game.

The best part of the game was hearing the ovation for Ryan Miller when he was announced. It was awesome. I was kind of disappointed to hear some booing for Crosby. Grow up people. Bing is the man.